'Thrilled to have Shreyas Iyer in our team' - Ajinkya Rahane ahead of Ranji Trophy semi-finals

Mumbai's Ranji Trophy skipper Ajinkya Rahane extended his support to Shreyas Iyer after the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) expelled the latter from its central contract list. The contentious decision was taken after Iyer missed Mumbai's Ranji Trophy quarter-final clash against Baroda, due to reported back pain.

In a vibrant display of cricketing camaraderie, the seasoned 35-year-old Rahane illuminated Iyer's wealth of experience and stellar performances for Mumbai, bubbling over with anticipation at the prospect of having his presence in the team for the pivotal semi-final showdown against Tamil Nadu.

“He’s an experienced player. His contribution has been amazing whenever he turned up for Mumbai. We are thrilled to have him in our team for the semi-final,” Rahane said, as quoted by Indian Express. “I don’t think he needs any encouragement or advice. He has always contributed with the bat for Mumbai, and him being around other players in the dressing room will also help the team’s cause."

Also Read: Explained: Why Ishan Kishan, Shreyas Iyer were left out of BCCI central contract?

The BCCI's move to drop Iyer and Ishan Kishan from the annual contract list has sent an authoritative message to players neglecting domestic cricket committents and has raised plenty of eyebrows. The drastic step was taken after both players opted not to participate in domestic matches despite a strong directive from BCCI secretary Jay Shah, who urged the contracted players to engage in domestic cricket when not playing international cricket.

Also read: Ishan Kishan continues to skip Ranji Trophy despite BCCI directive

The absence from the central contract list represents a significant setback for Iyer and Kishan, particularly with the T20 World Cup drawing near, only three months down the line. The selectors, after recommending the exclusion, received approval from the secretary.

Hardik Pandya, who is recovering from an ankle injury and has been absent from the cricketing realm since the World Cup, has retained his Grade A contract. The decision to retain Pandya contrasts with excluding Iyer and Kishan, who played vital roles across formats for the Indian team in 2023.

Also read: Why BCCI released Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer but retained Hardik Pandya in central contracts list?

The implications of this contract snub are crucial for Iyer and Kishan, potentially affecting their chances in a detrimental fashion of making it to the upcoming T20 World Cup's squad.

Also read: What perks will Iyer and Kishan miss out after being removed from BCCI Contract?

As eyes from the cricketing sphere look on, the absence from the central contract could deeply influence the immediate trajectory of these two players in the national team's structure.